If you have not watched the movie Temple Grandin on HBO you need to check it out. I watched the Grammy's and was so surprised to see that the movie was nominated and thrilled to have it win 7 awards. I was doubly surprised to see that she was in the audience and then on stage. She did not wear a designer dress but was dressed like she was ready to ride the range. I was so happy for her it brought tears to my eyes.
Temple Grandin is a professor at Colorado State University (CSU) in Ft. Collins. Her story is remarkable because as a young child she did not speak until she was four and the doctors recommended that she be institutionalized, advice her mother fortunately did not take. She was not diagnosed with autism until she was older. She has worked hard all her life to get an education (she has a PHD) and to be accepted into a field that was dominated by men. What an incredible inspiration to autistic adults and to the parents with autistic children.
When I was in Portland I needed a book and after looking through Megan's bookshelves choose
Look Me in the Eye by John Elder Robison. This is a story about a man with a similar success story-diagnosed later in life with Asperger Syndrome, a form of autism. If you are interested I am sure Megan will loan you the book.